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AARON O. VAUGHAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 71,431, datedNovember 26, 1 867.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEAD-LIGHTS FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: p i

Be it knownlthat I, A. C. VAUGHAN, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Head-Lights for Locomotives; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same. Y My invention consists of certain improvements, fully described hereafter, in the head-lights of locomotives, whereby the railroad-track is illuminated more intensely and to a'greater distance than by the-ordinary head lights; the lamp-burner being at the same time protected from the injurious effects of sudden gusts of wind.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and apply my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a purt'of this Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

At the base of the casing A of the head-light is a chamber, B, in the bottomplate of which are holes, a d,

and in each corner of the plate b which formsthe top of the chamber is a hole, 0, figs. 2 and 3-, for a purpose described hereafter. In the front of the casing A is tho-usual circular opening G coveredby a plate of glass, 3

and on the side of the casing is a hinged door, d, fig. 3. Two plates, D and E,1are introduced into the casing through the door d, and rest upon the top plate b of the chamber B, the edges of the plates being in contact. r a

with each other, and being adapted to suitable guides on the said top plate 6, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, so that.

the plates and their attachments may be withdrawn from and replaced in the casing, at pleasure. Fourvertieah screw-rods, f f and g g, are secured to the sliding plate E, and the two former pass through an oil-reservoir, F,

which is secured to the rods by means of the' nuts h, figs. 1 and 3. Connected to the reservoir F is'alamp X burner, G, similar to that for which I am about to apply for Letters Patent, or any. other suitable burner may be used. The rods serve to support the, polished metal reflector H, which is also secured by means of its rear projection ito the oil-reservoir F, as shown in figs. 1- and 2. The reflector is of the usual parabolic fmm, andthrough an opening near its rear end passes the lamp-burner above referred to; an opening j, being cut inthe reflector immediately above the burner for the admission of the upper end of the ordinary glass chimney,

From the front edge of the reflector H- to the opening 0 in the casing A extends a polished reflecting-band,

J, secured to the plate D by stays, ll, or otherwise, the said band being slightly concave or flaring on the inside, l

and of asomewhat larger diametbr in front than at the rear. A lens, K,conve on the front side m, and slightly convex on the opposite side, is held in a frame, 12, and is suspendedin a position-concentric with t-he band J at the end of thesame nearest to the reflector H, figs. 1 and 2. Air'is admitted tojthc chamber B through the holes a a in the bottom plate of the casing, and passes thence through the corner holes a e into the interior of the casing. The air is thus more evenly distributed, the casing and itscontents maintained in a cooler state, rom the efl'ects of sudden gusts of wind'thanif theair were admitted and the burner more eflcctually protected L at one or more central points as usual, and without first passing into a distributing-chamber. The heated air and gases pass off through the flaring tube q, and through the usual ventilator at-thetop of the casing.

I have found that by the use of a lens within or adjacent to the front edge of the reflector, substantially distance than when a reflector tion of the track is increased, both as regards;

us; so much so, indeed, that the track is instead of for the usual distance of about 1 as above described, the railroad-track is more intensely lighted and to a greater without the lens is employed. I have also found that the illumina distance and intensity, by the fiaring reflecting-ring'in front of the le lighted to a distance of about four hundred yards from the head-light, a hundred yards.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the burner of a locomotive head-light, a parabolic reflector, within or adjacent to the front edge of the reflector, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The reflecting flaring-ring J arranged in front of and concentric with the lens, as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed mynarne to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

/ AARON C. VAUGHAN.

Witnesses:

CnAnLns E. Fosrsu, W. J. R. DnLAnv.

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